Alarm system for divers

ABSTRACT

A floatable alarm device is normally restrained to the housing of a diver carried control. The control includes means for sensing respiration rate and causes release of the alarm if respiration rate substantially deviates from normal.

Waited States Patent [191 de La Taillade et all.

[451 Mar. 19, 1974 ALARM SYSTEM FOR DIVERS Inventors: .Ieande LaTaillade; ,l a cg u es Degraves, both of 1 Oustalet, Terron Superieur,06 Nice, France Filed: Feb. 11, 1972 Appl. No.: 225,562

Foreign Application Priority Data Feb. 11, 1972 France 72.05444 U.S. Cl340/279, 128/208, 128/145 R Int. Cl. G081) 23/00 Field of Search340/279; 128/208, 142.2;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1949 Tobias 340/279 r *1 1/ZIMOUTHPIECEI 3,253,810 5/1966 Penn 325/116 X 3,414,896 12/1968 Glick340/279 X 3,566,387 2/1971 Schoener.... 340/279 2,470,783 5/1949 Mead325/116 UN X 3,432,755 3/1969 Moreno 325/116 X Primary Examiner-John W.Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Scott F. Partridge 14 Claims, 3 DrawingFigures JLALARM: |SYSTEM I i I l i i l J PATENIEDMAR 1 9 1974 SHEET 2[IF 2 BALLOON AMPOULE SPARKLET Wm 65 (MANOMETER) BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION l. Field of the Invention The present invention relates toenhancing the safety of individuals engaged in underwater activities.More specifically, this invention is directed to a manually orautomatically operated device which provides an indication at thesurface of the water of the position of a diver having mechanical orphysiological difficulities. Accordingly, the general objects of theinvention are to provide novel and improved methods and apparatus ofsuch character.

2- Description Q298219; An.

In the prior a r divers have had no means at their disposal which couldbe employed to indicate at the surface their position and the need forassistance in the case of severe or sudden uneasiness or physical ormechanical trouble. In the case of sudden uneasiness it is especiallyimportant that the diver be easily located so that proper assistance canbe brought to him. Other than employment of a buddy system, the besttechnique available in the prior art for monitoring diving activitycomprised the visual observance, from a patrol vessel, of the diversexhaust air bubble stream. When a number of divers were operatingsimultaneously the sudden disappearance of one of these air bubblestreams at most revealed to the observers that an accident had happenedto one of the divers. However, in addition to the obvious possibility ofhuman error, monitoring of the air bubble stream provided no indicationof the nature of the divers trouble, very inexact information withrespect to location of the diver and no informaton of the time which hadelapsed since the problem or accident occured. In the case where asingle diver was exploring a large zone, air bubble monitoringnecessarily results in too great a time elapsing between an accident andits detection to enable adequate assistance to be brought to the diver.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention overcomes the abovediscussed and other deficiencies of the prior art by providing apparatusfor indicating at the water surface the precise position ofa diverexperiencing some difficulty. Apparatus in accordance with the inventionis carried by the diver and is operated automatically should the diverencounter a mechanical or physiological problem. Apparatus in accordancewith the invention may also be operated manually by the diver.

The present invention comprises a floatable alarm device which isnormally held in or on a control device carried by the diver. Retentionof the alarm device with the diver carried control is accomplishedelectrically by a circuit which is responsive to the divers respirationrate. This circuit is adjusted whereby a preselected deviation fromnormal respiration rate will cause release of the floatable alarm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The present invention may be betterunderstood and its numerous objects and advantages will become apparentto those skilled in the art by reference to the accompanying drawingwherein like reference numerals refer to like elements in the severalfigures and in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing, partly in functional form, of a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of the operating sequence of thedevice shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a detailed schematic of a preferred embodiment of theinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to FIG. 1, it isenvisioned that the invention may, for example, be mounted on a normaldivers helmet of commercial size. A small auxilary attachment indicatedgenerally at 1 is connected between the outlet of an intermediatepressure reducer 2 and a flexible hose 3 which leads either directly tothe divers mouthpiece 4 or to the mouthpiece via a further low pressurereducer. Accordingly, air at reduced pressure flows through theattachment 1 to the diver as the diver breathes. The attachment 1comprise a movable flap 5 which is rotatable about a shaft and which isheld in a first position against an air port 19 by a compression spring6. With each inhalation of the diver, the movable flap 5 is shifted bythe air flow and in the direction of such flow; i.e., toward themouthpiece 4. Flap 5 will include a conductive element which is in turnelectrically connected to a conductive portion of attachment 1. It willbe understood that all of the conductive elements of the invention aresuitably insulated from the aqueous environment in which 7 the inventionis utilized. The movement of flap 5 during inhalation caused the flap toassume a second position wherein it is in contact with an electricalcontact 5. The connection established between flap 5 and contact 5 willcomplete an electrical circuit indicated generally at 27. The flap 5will stay in the second position with circuit 27 completed during theentire inhalation portion of the divers breathing cycle. When the diverexhales the air flow to the mouthpiece 4 is interrupted and spring 6moves flap 5 back to its first position against port 19.

During the period of time that flap 5 is in its second position; i.e.,with circuit 27 completed; current from a first direct current source 7will flow through series connected resistor 9 and coil 10 ofa relay 12.With current flowing through the circuit a capacitor 8 will charge to alevel determined by the size of resistor 9. The contacts 13 of relay 12are connected in a second circuit, indicated generally at 11, whichincludes a second direct current source 14 and series connected solenoid15. When energized, solenoid 15 holds a mechanical latch or retainingdevice 16 against a release spring 18 and thereby prevents liberation ofthe floatable alarm system 17. Alarm system 17 will be described indetail below in the course of the discussion of FIG. 3. As noted, theforce provided by energized solenoid 15 is greater than that of tensionspring 18. Upon deenergization of solenoid 15, and after a predeterminedtime lapse, the force of spring 18 will move the retaining means 16 outof its latching position thereby releasing alarm system 17 which ascendsto the surface of the water due to its buoyancy.

Operation of the invention may be better understood from the jointconsideration of the FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 depicts the charge oncapacitor 8 as a function of time and the divers breathing rhythm. Aftera first period of time 20-21, which may be considered as the start time,a period of normal breathing 21-22 follows.

A single breathing cycle 24-26 comprises inhalation time 24-25 andexhalation time 25-26. During inhalation time 24-25 movable flap 5assumes its second position and completes the electrical circuit 27.Accordingly, during time period 24-25 the voltage across capacitor 8 andalso the voltage across coil 10 of relay 12 will increase from level Xto level Y. During exhalation period 25-26 the movable flap 5 isreturned to its first position and circuit 27 is open. Accordingly,during time period 25-26 the voltage across capacitor 8 will decreasefrom level Y to level X. During this exhalation period the charge storedin capacitor 8 maintains the voltage across the coil 10 of relay 12.Thus, it may be seen that the voltage across capacitor 8 and coil 10cycles during normal breathing between maximum and minimum levels whichare dependent upon the divers respiration rate and the size of capacitor8 and resistor 9. The size of the components comprising circuit 27 areselected so that during the exhalation portions of the diver s breathingcycle the voltage across capacitor 8 will, under normal conditions,always exceed a preselected level indicated as Z-Z. The selection of thevalue of the components of the circuit 27 should further permitnon-breathing of the diver during a period of time extending overseveral normal breathing cycles without triggering the alarm system. Thevoltage level Z-Z represents the minimum voltage required forenergization of relay 12 to hold contacts 13 of circuit 11 in the closedposition to thereby keep solenoid 15 energized. Below voltage level Z-Z'the contacts 13 of relay 12 will be opened thus de-energizing solenoid15 and permitting spring 18 to release the floatable alarm system 17.

At the time indicated at 22 in FIG. 2 the normal breathing of the diverhas stopped. Thus, beginning from time 22, capacitor 8 will dischargethrough coil 10 and at time 23 the charge on capacitor 8 will beinsufficient to hold relay 12 closed and contacts 13 will open therebytie-energizing solenoid 15, through the opening of circuit 11, andpermitting release of floatable alarm 17.

As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, in order to reduce thesize and weight of the invention the relay 12 may be replaced by anelectronic switch. Use of an electronic switch, of course, will alsoreduce the system power requirements thereby permitting employment of asmaller battery 7 and a smaller capacitor 8.

It is also to be noted that in the FIG. 1 scheme, should compressionspring 6 break the movable flap 5 would stay in its second positionwhereby circuit 27 would be permanently completed and the automaticcontrol loop would be rendered ineffective. If deemed desirable thisproblem may be obviated by including the spring 6 as an integral part ofthe conductive path of circuit 27.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the preferred embodiment of apparatus inaccordance with the present invention is shown schematically. Theapparatus comprises two major subsystems; the floatable alarm system 17and control circuitry located within housing 35.. As discussed above theinvention includes means for connecting alarm system 17 to housing 35and means for manually or automatically liberating the alarm system fromthe housing.

In FIG. 3 alarm system 17 is retained on housing 35 by means of a pin 37corresponding to retaining device 16 of FIG. 1, which is received in anaperture 38 in an extension of the alarm system housing; the alarmsystem housing extension being received in a channel in the control loophousing.

In its normal position pin 37 engages aperture 38 thus preventing therelease of the buoyant alarm system. In case of emergency, pin 37 isretracted, either automatically or manually, from aperture 38. Uponretraction of pin 37 a compression spring 39 will assist in theseparation of the alarm system from the control loop housing. Asdescribed above in the discussion of FIGS. 1 and 2, a solenoid 15energized through the action of the automatic control circuit acts onthe retaining means 37 and is opposed by a spring 18.

The embodiment of FIG. 3 includes a third control circuit 42 whichcomprises a main three position switch 43 and a series connected pushbutton type switch 44. Series connected switches 43 and 44 select themode of operation of the apparatus and, in so doing, completes a circuitbetween one of the terminals of battery 7 of FIG. 1 and the remainder ofcircuit 27. Accordingly, the energy supply to circuit 27 is switched onor off by third control circuit 42. The main switch 43 is operated byhand through the intermediary of lever means 45 whereby the movablecontact arm of switch 43 may be cause to assume a first position 46, asecond position 47 or a third position 48. In position 46, indicated bya broken line, switch 43 will open the electrical control circuit 42thereby de-energizing circuit 27 and placing the automatic control loopout of service. However, with switch 43 in first position 46 the pin 37is mechanically locked against solenoid 15 and the floatable alarmsystem 17 cannot be released. Position 46 of switch 43 is employed whenthe safety apparatus is not used.

In its second position, indicated by the solid line 47, switch 43 closesthird control circuit 42 thereby energizing automatic control circuit 27and placing it in normal operation.

In its third position 48, also indicated by a broken line, switch 43opens third control circuit 42 and deenergizes control circuit 27.However, unlike first posi tion 46, in position 48 of switch 43 theretaining means 16 is not mechanically blocked against solenoid 15 andthe alarm will be released through the operation of spring 18. Position48 of switch 43 thus constitutes a manually operable alarm release.

The push button type switch 44 may also be employed to de-energize theautomatic control circuit 27. With switch 43 in position 47 theoperation of the switch 44 for a sufficient time period, for example atime period equivalent to period 22-23 of FIG. 2, will result in therelease of the alarm. Accordingly, it may be seen that switch 44 isincluded as a second manually operable emergency alarm release device.

A further manually operable alarm release device may be included in theinvention. This further or third emergency device comprises a handle 49and a line 50 which is connected directly to pin 37. Except when switch43 is in its first position 46, the diver may release alarm system 17 bypulling pin 37 out of engagement with aperture 38 manually via line 50.

The alarm system 17, in its most basic version, is comprised of afloatable body comprised of a material which is distinctively coloredand easily visable. Alarm system 17 may further comprise a reel 28 whichis mounted on a shaft 29 and which serves as a storage medium for a line30. The first end of line 30 is connected to reel 28 and the other endof line 30 is con nected to control loop housing 35 at point 31. Line 30may be graduated in feet whereby the divers depth may be immediatelyascertained when the alarm device 17 reaches the surface from visibleobservation of the unwound line remaining on reel 28. However, rather 5than graduating line 30, a counter 32 may be added to the alarm system;counter 32 will be driven by reel 38 as line 30 is unwound.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the floatable alarm system 17further comprises an inflatable balloon 33 which will be inflated by asparklet 34. The sparklet 34 is retained in its normal position by asafty pin 51. Pin 51 will be withdrawn through the intermediary of aspring 52 if alarm system 17 becomes separated from control loop housing35. Upon withdrawal of pin 51 a furnther spring 53 pushes the sparklet34 against a striker 54 and gas under reduced pressure flows throughtube 55 and inflates balloon 33. Balloon 33 will, of course, be chosenof a material having a color which is easily visible against the surfaceof the water.

The alarm system 17 may also comprise an ampoule 56 containing aconcentrated liquid dye. The ampoule 56 is broken by a small hammer 57activated by a spring 58 when alarm device 17 separates from controlloop housing 35. The liquid from ampoule 56 is released from the housingof alarm system 17 via small openings and will dye the water.

A bathymetric recorder 59 may also be mounted on alarm system 17.Recorder 59 is driven, for example, by and electric motor 60 energizedby a battery 61 and is switched onby switch 62. Switch 62 is connectedto the operating device or lever means 45 of switch 43. Pressurereadings are provided to recorder 59 by a spring loaded manometer 63.When energized, the recorder 59 gives useful information about thedifferent periods of time the diver has stayed at different depth levelswhere by decompression procedures for the diver can, if necessary, laterbe determined.

While a preferred embodiment has been shown and described, variousmodifications and substitutions may be made thereto without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is to beunderstood that the present invention has been described by way ofillustration and not limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. A divers safety applicance comprising:

means responsive to the divers respiration rate for generating anelectrical signal commensurate therewith; 50

a housing carried by a diver;

floatable alarm means;

latch means attached to said housing for releasably retaining said alarmmeans on said housing;

solenoid means for operating said latch means in a first direction withrespect to said alarm means; resilient means operating in opposition tosaid solenoid means for operating said latch means in a second directionwith respect to said alarm means; and means responsive to saidrespiration rate signal for changing the state of energization of saidsolenoid means whereby said latch means will be operated to release saidalarm means from said housing upon disruption of the divers normalrespiration rate.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

means for manually separating said alarm means from said housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said respiration rate signalgenerating means comprises:

a direct current source; first switch means, said first switch meansincluding a movable member responsive to the delivery of air to thediver, said first switch means movable member being operated in responseto the divers respiration rate to complete and interrupt a current paththrough said first switch means, said first switch means being connectedin series with said current source; capacitor means connected inparallel with said current source and first switch means; and secondswitch means connected in parallel with said capacitor means, saidsecond switch means controlling the operation of said solenoid means. 4.The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: means for manuallyseparating said alarm means from said housing. 5. The apparatus of claim2 wherein said respiration rate signal generating means comprises:

a direct current source; switch means, said switch means including amovable member situated in the path through which air is delivered tothe diver, said switch means movable member being operated in responseto the divers respiration rate to complete and interrupt a current paththrough said switch means, said switch means being connected in serieswith said current source; capacitor means connected in parallel withsaid current source and switch means; and relay means connected inparallel with said capacitor means, said relay means controlling theenergization of said solenoid means. 6. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid alarm means comprises:

a buoyant container; means mounted on said buoyant container forreleasably storing a line, a first end of the line being connected tosaid storing means; and means connecting the second end of the line tosaid housing whereby said line will be pulled from said storage meansupon separation of said alarm means from said housing. 7. The apparatusof claim 2 wherein said alarm means comprises:

a buoyant container; means mounted on said buoyant container forreleasably storing a line, a first end of the line being connected tosaid storing means; and means connecting the second end of the line tosaid housing whereby said line will be pulled from said storage meansupon separation of said alarm means from said housing. 8. The apparatusof claim 3 wherein said alarm means comprises:

a buoyant container; means mounted on said buoyant container forreleasably storing a line, a first end of the line being connected tosaid storing means; and means connecting the second end of the line tosaid housing whereby said line will be pulled from said storage meansupon separation of said alarm means from said housing. 9. The apparatusof claim 6 wherein said alarm means further comprises:

means responsive to the separation of said buoyant container from saidhousing for enhancing the visibility of said container when it reachesthe water surface.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said alarm means further comprises:

means responsive to the separation of said buoyant container from saidhousing for enhancing the visibily of said container when it reaches thewater surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises:

a buoyant container; and

extendable means connecting said container to said housing, saidextendable means providing an indication at the water surface of thedivers depth.

12. A divers safety appliance comprising:

means responsive to the divers respiration rate for generating anelectrical signal commensurate therewith;

a housing carried by the diver;

a buoyant container;

extendable means connecting said container to said housing, saidextendable means providing an indication at the water surface of thedivers depth;

releasable retaining means positioned within said housing, saidretaining means normally engaging said buoyant container to prevent thesurfacing thereof;

10 tion rate signal generating means comprises;

a direct current source;

switch means, said switch means including a movable member responsive tothe delivery of air to the diver, said switch means movable member beingoperated in response to the divers respiration rate to complete andinterrupt a current path through said switch means, said switch meansbeing connected in series with said current source;

capacitor means connected in parailel with said current source andswitch means; and

actuator means connected in parallel with said ca pacitor means andresponsive to the potential thereacross for controlling the Operation ofsaid holding means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for manually overriding said holding means to thereby release saidcontainer from said housing.

1. A diver''s safety applicance comprising: means responsive to thediver''s respiration rate for generating an electrical signalcommensurate therewith; a housing carried by a diver; floatable alarmmeans; latch means attached to said housing for releasably retainingsaid alarm means on said housing; solenoid means for operating saidlatch means in a first direction with respect to said alarm means;resilient means operating in opposition to said solenoid means foroperating said latch means in a second direction with respect to saidalarm means; and means responsive to said respiration rate signal forchanging the state of energization of said solenoid means whereby saidlatch means will be operated to release said alarm means from saidhousing upon disruption of the diver''s normal respiration rate.
 2. Theapparatus of claim 1 further comprising: means for manually separatingsaid alarm means from said housing.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid respiration rate signal generating means comprises: a directcurrent source; first switch means, said first switch means including amovable member responsive to the delivery of air to the diver, saidfirst switch means movable member being operated in response to thediver''s respiration rate to complete and interrupt a current paththrough said first switch means, said first switch means being connectedin series with said current source; capacitor means connected inparallel with said current source and first switch means; and secondswitch means connected in parallel with said capacitor means, saidsecond switch means controlling the operation of said solenoid means. 4.The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: means for manuallyseparating said alarm means from said housing.
 5. The apparatus of claim2 wherein said respiration rate signal generating means comprises: adirect current source; switch means, said switch means including amovable member situated in the path through which air is delivered tothe diver, said switch means movable member being operated in responseto the diver''s respiration rate to complete and interrupt a currentpath through said switch means, said switch means being connected inseries with said current source; capacitor means connected in parallelwith said current source and switch means; and relay means connected inparallel with said capacitor means, said relay means controlling theenergization of said solenoid means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1 whereinsaid alarm means comprises: a buoyant container; means mounted on saidbuoyant container for releasably storing a line, a first end of the linebeing connected to said storing means; and means connecting the secondend of the line to said housing whereby said line will be pulled fromsaid storage means upon separation of said alarm means from saidhousing.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said alarm means comprises:a buoyant container; means mounted on said buoyant container forreleasably storing a line, a first eNd of the line being connected tosaid storing means; and means connecting the second end of the line tosaid housing whereby said line will be pulled from said storage meansupon separation of said alarm means from said housing.
 8. The apparatusof claim 3 wherein said alarm means comprises: a buoyant container;means mounted on said buoyant container for releasably storing a line, afirst end of the line being connected to said storing means; and meansconnecting the second end of the line to said housing whereby said linewill be pulled from said storage means upon separation of said alarmmeans from said housing.
 9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said alarmmeans further comprises: means responsive to the separation of saidbuoyant container from said housing for enhancing the visibility of saidcontainer when it reaches the water surface.
 10. The apparatus of claim8 wherein said alarm means further comprises: means responsive to theseparation of said buoyant container from said housing for enhancing thevisibily of said container when it reaches the water surface.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 1 wherein said alarm means comprises: a buoyantcontainer; and extendable means connecting said container to saidhousing, said extendable means providing an indication at the watersurface of the diver''s depth.
 12. A diver''s safety appliancecomprising: means responsive to the diver''s respiration rate forgenerating an electrical signal commensurate therewith; a housingcarried by the diver; a buoyant container; extendable means connectingsaid container to said housing, said extendable means providing anindication at the water surface of the diver''s depth; releasableretaining means positioned within said housing, said retaining meansnormally engaging said buoyant container to prevent the surfacingthereof; electrically actuated holding means for maintaining saidretaining means in its normal position, said holding means beingnormally energized and responsive to the magnitude of said respirationrate signal; and means for operating said retaining means to a containerrelease position when said holding means is de-energized.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 12 wherein said respiration rate signal generatingmeans comprises; a direct current source; switch means, said switchmeans including a movable member responsive to the delivery of air tothe diver, said switch means movable member being operated in responseto the diver''s respiration rate to complete and interrupt a currentpath through said switch means, said switch means being connected inseries with said current source; capacitor means connected in parallelwith said current source and switch means; and actuator means connectedin parallel with said capacitor means and responsive to the potentialthereacross for controlling the operation of said holding means.
 14. Theapparatus of claim 13 further comprising: means for manually overridingsaid holding means to thereby release said container from said housing.